Penfold Events & Lifestyle Management offer a wide range of bespoke event management and lifestyle management services specialising in groups from 2 – 100 people. As a company we have a history of experience working at some of the top event management agencies in the UK as well as working in the corporate world. Our experience covers a variety of industries such as finance, automotive, telecom, aerospace and charity sectors as well as corporate philanthropic projects. We are passionate about everything we do and this will come across when we work with you. We thrive on a challenge and will work on all types and sizes of events.

I offer a wide range of event management services for both the Private and Corporate sectors. I have worked at a number of the top event management agencies, working on car, telecom, aerospace and charity accounts. I have worked in the financial services industry as the UK event manager for Man Group plc, the largest hedge fund in the world. My work at Man included staff events, client events, the Man Booker Prize, managing their O2 box and the management of their sponsorship of the Historic Royal Palaces. I have also worked on a number of philanthropic projects, most recently a project to raise £35m for the First World War Centenary Campaign at the Imperial War Museum. I am passionate about what I do and feel this comes across in my work. I am a skilful communicator and negotiator, and I thrive on a challenge. I am comfortable working with people on all levels and enjoy meeting new people.

I undertook a career break to travel the world before relocating from Essex to the Oxfordshire area on my return. I travelled through 18 different countries, experiencing many different territories, languages, communities and challenges. I feel this was a great learning experience for me; testing and developing several aspects of my skill set including; communication, negotiation, planning, logistics, budgeting and patience. It also opened my eyes even more so to the vast contrasts between our everyday lives in the UK and the struggles that so many people live through daily.

Man Group plc is the largest Hedge Fund in the world, a FTSE 100 company and currently manages funds of USD$69 billion. I worked for Man Group plc and Man Investments.Principle Accountabilities:Promoting the brand and strengthening client and staff relations though events. Working with colleagues worldwide to successfully deliver all event processes including development, budget planning, research, supplier and contract negotiation, gifts, design, client liaison, logistics, on-site implementation and post event analysis.Managing Man Group plc events such as the AGM, The Man Booker prize sponsorship including receptions and the dinner, various internal staff events such as summer and winter parties as well as charitable sporting events. Management of the Man O2 Arena box for clients and staff. Philanthropy; looking after the Historic Royal Palaces (HRP) multi million pound sponsorship relationship. The Tower of London was the venue for Mans 225th Anniversary event. Working with HR on the Man Graduate roadshow. The above events ranged from 20 – 1400 guests. Assisting with organisation of the Board of Directors AGM which included very specific venue requirements due to security.Developing and running high quality social and educational events for clients alongside the UK and Canadian Sales teams. These included hospitality events such as Wimbledon and Goodwood, dinners, conferences, international event programs for clients and partners and roadshows as well as educational events that combined a business subject alongside another subject such as wine. These events were organised for between 8 and 100 people and varied greatly in scope, budget and timeframe.

I started at Man Group plc & Man Investments, working as an Executive PA, after being head hunted from the Oxford-Man Institute. My manager knew that the events role was in the process of being approved and took me on as his PA as a way of getting me into Man while that role was signed off. In this role I also assisted the rest of the department. My role included:Assisting with the restack project, which reallocated departments so they were more efficiently located. In some cases redistributing staff to new floors or to a second building.Booking flights and hotels internationally.Co-ordinating the companies First Aiders. Reviewing the companies branded stationery so it is internationally in line with company policy. General PA duties such as expenses, diary management etc.

I took the position as Event Co-ordinator and Assistant Administrator on a temporary basis. My main roles at the Institute were:The launch of the Institute which was opened by Dr John Hood, Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University and Peter Clarke, CEO of Man Group plc; The Institute is a collaboration between Oxford University and Man Group plc and based in Oxford. This was a cocktail and canapé reception for 120 people at the Institute followed by a dinner for 50 VIPs at another venue.The Receptions for each of the different departments involved with the Institute after the opening. Weekly Seminars held in the Institute often with high profile speakers. Each of these events required invitations, mainly via email and obligatory onsite registration for guests on arrival due to the legal contract with Man Group plc due to the sensitivity of their work.

I worked as a Resort manager/Rep for the Scottish ski company Ski Activity in the Three Valleys, based in St Martin de Belleville.I managed three chalet hosts and was in charge of the finances and all administration for the resort. I also had to recruit for a new chalet host whilst I was on site from the local community.I looked after the guests from when they arrived at the airport until they left; booking ski hire, lift passes and lessons etc. I also transported them around the resort when needed. I looked after the procurement of all food and wine for the resort.I found the job challenging as it was the first time I had managed a team on a full time basis rather than just suppliers at events, however it was very rewarding, especially the customer contact.

I worked on the Porsche and SsangYong accounts.I worked on events such as golf championships, annual parties, car launches, press launches, team building events, county shows, exhibitions, sporting events as well as themed events and dinners.My role included budgeting for events, recruiting promotional staff, sourcing suppliers and products, managing staff at events, liaising with clients and venues, setting up event layout e.g. branding.Dealing with the press, organising design and production of adverts and speaking to publications, as well as arranging press vehicles and loans.Customer relations, dealing with public enquiries and problems. All SsangYong adverts or promotional material had the Marketing and Design Matters office number so all calls came into my colleague or me.Developing marketing and event concepts and schedules for clients.Negotiating with suppliers and exhibitions over prices and contracts.Branding and signage, commissioning and positioning.Booking transportation and accommodation for clients and staff.Liaising with car dealers over their regional events and advertising.

This role was my one year industrial placement which was part of my degree.My role included:Liaising on site with contractors and venue staff. Fire fighting any problems as and when they arrivedI designed and completed a competitor analysis audit for the company, leading the development of a competitor database of detailed skills and clients. Designed and ran many different database files for various clients for different events in Act.Venue and product research, negotiation and liaison.Researched and produced venue and gift proposals for clients.I was involved in events such as: BT Marketing Awards 2003, Paris and Singapore Airshows, Rhodes Trust Centenary and the BT Platform events. I also arranged the company’s AGM at the Four Seasons Canary Wharf.